Elvis Presley birth date and place
Elvis Aaron Presley was born on January 8, 1935, in Tupelo, Mississippi, United States. He was delivered in a two-room house at 306 Lauderdale Street to parents Vernon and Gladys Presley. This date and location are recorded in U.S. Census records, local hospital ledgers from the era, and the family Bible. Multiple civic and family sources align on this information, forming a consistent and reliable account of his origin before his family moved to Memphis, Tennessee, when he was a child.
Elvis Presley death date and circumstances
Elvis Presley died on August 16, 1977, at Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee. He was found unresponsive around 2:30 p.m. local time and was subsequently pronounced dead at Baptist Memorial Hospital. The official cause of death was listed as cardiovascular collapse, complicated by obesity and prescribed medications. News of his passing spread quickly, marking the end of a defining era in popular music and confirming the close of a deeply influential career.
Key facts at a glance
| Attribute | Verified Detail | Source Type |
|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | January 8, 1935 | Birth records, family documents |
| Place of birth | Tupelo, Mississippi, U.S. | Census and local records |
| Date of death | August 16, 1977 | Death certificate, news reports |
| Place of death | Baptist Memorial Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. | Medical and news records |
| Reported age at death | 42 years old | Obituary documentation |
| Official cause of death | Cardiovascular collapse | Autopsy and death certificate |
Context for understanding these dates
Elvis lived 42 years between his birth on January 8, 1935, and his death on August 16, 1977. His birth in the depths of the Great Depression and his death in the midst of the rock and roll era frame a narrative of rapid cultural change. During this span he recorded landmark music, starred in films, and became a global symbol of a shifting American identity. In biographies and retrospectives, these dates are commonly referenced to anchor timelines of artistic development, personal struggles, and enduring influence.
Immediate legacy following his death
After Elvis died on August 16, 1977, Graceland became a permanent site of pilgrimage for fans, and his catalog continued to sell in large volumes. Memorial services were held across the United States, with notable gatherings at iconic venues. Television networks aired retrospectives, and radio stations replayed his hits, reinforcing his presence in public memory. This enduring attention transformed his death into a cultural milestone, ensuring that discussions of his career routinely circle back to when he was born and when he died as fixed reference points.
Addressing misinformation and rumors
Over the decades, rumors have occasionally claimed that Elvis did not really die in 1977 or that his birth date is misrecorded. Official death and birth certificates, together with contemporary news and hospital logs, confirm both the January 8, 1935, birth and the August 16, 1977, death. These documents counter speculation and provide a stable factual foundation for any long-form biography or reference entry. Citing primary records helps distinguish verified detail from persistent myth.
How these dates shape historical perspective
By anchoring his life between 1935 and 1977, historians can more clearly trace how rock and roll emerged from earlier gospel, country, and rhythm-and-blues traditions. His birth date places him squarely in the era of post-Depole recovery, while his death date situates him at the cusp of punk, disco, and new media. Understanding this timeline supports a more nuanced view of his influence on musical styles, industry practices, and celebrity culture, making the dates valuable markers for ongoing analysis.
Frequently asked questions
- When was Elvis Presley born? He was born on January 8, 1935.
- When did Elvis Presley die? He died on August 16, 1977.
- How old was Elvis when he died? He was 42 years old at the time of his death.
- Where was Elvis born? He was born in Tupelo, Mississippi, United States.
- Where did Elvis die? He died at Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee, United States.
Reliable sourcing and verification
These facts are drawn from municipal birth records, the U.S. Census, death certificates, and contemporaneous news coverage maintained by libraries and official archives. Cross-referencing these materials shows consistent agreement across institutions and over time. For readers who wish to verify independently, publicly available documents and authoritative biographies support the same dates and locations, reinforcing confidence in the information.